Video tool to help frail older adults plan their future medical care

As the proportion of the aging population continues to rise, age-related frailty syndrome, characterized by a decline in the function of multiple physiological systems and accompanied by vulnerability to stress, has become a significant issue. It has been associated with higher mortality rates, hospitalization rates, risk of falls, occurrence of fractures, decreased mobility, depression, cognitive decline, dementia, loneliness, and admission to long-term care facilities. Advance care planning is a thoughtful and communicative process that helps individuals, while still cognitively capable, to pre-determine and express their preferences for medical care in the event of future incapacity. With the ongoing development in the field of frailty and the rapid aging of the population, the increasing age may be accompanied by severe illnesses, symptom burden, functional dependence, caregiver burden, and extensive medical utilization. The importance of advance care planning is increasingly emphasized, but its implementation and promotion remain challenging. In addition to systematic promotion from a policy perspective, tools to assist patients in decision-making have been proposed. Video decision aids can encourage people to engage in advance care planning by sparking conversations about informed consent and helping individuals contemplate the choices they may face. Video decision aids can also assist individuals in envisioning future scenarios and reflecting on their decisions. Previous randomized controlled trials have explored the benefits of such video tools for specific patient populations, such as cancer patients, heart failure patients, and elderly individuals hospitalized. However, there is a need for innovative approaches to enhance the knowledge, willingness, and actual signing rates of advance care planning for frail elderly individuals. This study aims to develop a video decision aid specifically tailored for the elderly frail population undergoing advance care planning.

Through a randomized controlled trial, the study aims to validate its actual benefits, expecting to assist the elderly frail population in understanding and expressing their willingness for advance care planning, increasing the actual willingness to sign advance directives, and helping clinical healthcare teams achieve person-centered, high-quality care for this population.